Ok so im going to get this game once my exams are over and im gunna get either a fightpad or a fight stick because the 360's d-pad is complete shit. 
 
i just wanted to know what the benefits of a stick over a pad are and if the sticks are worth the extra bones? 
and if i got a pad would i be at any disadvantage over a stick?

I picked up a fight pad when I got Street Fighter IV because I couldn't do anything with the standard 360 controller.  I like it, but I haven't used a stick so I can't really compare.  I will say that the pad has one advantage over the stick; I don't feel bad when I throw it after losing, since it's pretty cheap.

I think for me the advantage with the stick is using all your fingers to hit the buttons instead of just your thumb.  Charge characters I think are easier to use with the stick as well. 

The fightstick will take you farther if you decide to get serious with the game. You can also easily and quickly(no soldering) swap the parts for arcade quality ones. The only drawback is a higher initial learning curve. I would also try using the analog stick instead of pad on the 360, it's wayyyyy more accurate.

If you're planning on playing the game for a long time and dedicating yourself to getting better then you should definitely get a fightstick.

Pad vs. Stick always boils down to personal preference. There a pro pad players that can throw down with the best stick players out there. The only time you would want to invest in a stick is if you want to transfer your skills to an arcade machine.

the pad is good, poor build quality.
the stick will take about a month of training mode, but its generally better

Pads are for women.

" Pad vs. Stick always boils down to personal preference. There a pro pad players that can throw down with the best stick players out there. The only time you would want to invest in a stick is if you want to transfer your skills to an arcade machine. "

Pads are dodgy, won't last you.

" Pads are for women. "

" @newmarcom said:

" Pad vs. Stick always boils down to personal preference. There a pro pad players that can throw down with the best stick players out there. The only time you would want to invest in a stick is if you want to transfer your skills to an arcade machine. "

This. The only reason I want to start learning on my fightstick is so I can play at arcades, not because I feel I'll be better then if I used a fightpad or 360 controller. "

There are Pro pad players around so anybody that says you can do shit on a stick and can't on a pad just isn't trying hard enough. But for me I go stick because its just more comfortable to rest my hands of something than grip a tiny controller even if the D pad is good. 

I think the point here is that it's generally harder to do more complex shit on a pad compared to a stick(once you get over the initial learning curve).

FightStick, no question.

I never used a stick before SFIV. I started on the 360 controller, then went to a stick. I was terrible at the stick for a while but eventually you get used to it and you start to like it. I also like the Fightpad as well.

I perfer my PS3 pad over all of the above. I can pull off any move 99% of the time..

" @Scooper said:

" @newmarcom said:

" Pad vs. Stick always boils down to personal preference. There a pro pad players that can throw down with the best stick players out there. The only time you would want to invest in a stick is if you want to transfer your skills to an arcade machine. "

This. The only reason I want to start learning on my fightstick is so I can play at arcades, not because I feel I'll be better then if I used a fightpad or 360 controller. "

 Do you play "mantis" style on pad(hit buttons with fingers instead of thumb)? Cause if you do you might as well be using a stick and if you don't I dunno how the hell you are getting dual button presses to happen consistently with a thumb. "

" I perfer my PS3 pad over all of the above. I can pull off any move 99% of the time.. "

Just preference. Chances are if you've never used a stick, you're better off without one.

We might of, but i'm not sure. 
 
either way my PSN is MikeFightNight, we should have a friendly bout some time;)    

I quite like the dualshock for SF, but stick is still better 

" @Necrotrophic: but why is the stick better? "

I am also thinking about getting either a fightpad or stick but had a question and instead of starting a new topic, do they work for other games? Mainly, can I play Game Room games with it?

I just got back from watching a pretty awesome SFIV tourney at PAX East, and some of the finalists were sporting gamepads, while others played with sticks. This argument is like Wii mote versus gamecube controller for SSBB, just go with what you're more comfortable with.

Stick > Pad (show me a pad player that has won a major SFIV/ST tournament)
 
More accurate to control movement with your wrist and it's easier to push all 3 buttons at the same time on a stick than it is on the fightpads. 
 
But also it is great to be able to hop on to arcade cabs and not feel like it's totally alien. :)
 
"

" I perfer my PS3 pad over all of the above. I can pull off any move 99% of the time.. "

" @newmarcom said:

" Pad vs. Stick always boils down to personal preference. There a pro pad players that can throw down with the best stick players out there. The only time you would want to invest in a stick is if you want to transfer your skills to an arcade machine. "

This. The only reason I want to start learning on my fightstick is so I can play at arcades, not because I feel I'll be better then if I used a fightpad or 360 controller. "

" Stick > Pad (show me a pad player that has won a major SFIV/ST tournament)
 
More accurate to control movement with your wrist and it's easier to push all 3 buttons at the same time on a stick than it is on the fightpads. 
 
But also it is great to be able to hop on to arcade cabs and not feel like it's totally alien. :)
 
"

" I perfer my PS3 pad over all of the above. I can pull off any move 99% of the time.. "

  It's not about pulling off moves, it's about comfort and ease of use. It's far, far more comfortable and easy to do Vipers super jump cancels on a stick, same goes for pretty much every sort of combo in the game.  Having to wrap your hand around them triggers/R1/L1 buttons is just horrible...  Edit: That said don't go anywhere near the standard edition fightsticks, them things drop like flies. I've had two and both times buttons died after a month, fortunately I intended to mod them with sanwa parts so it wasn't really that big a deal but unless you plan on modding the standard edition I strongly advise you go for a custom stick, the tournament stick or a Hori. (tournament stick uses sanwa parts too remember!) "

 same goes for pretty much every sort of combo in the game.  Having to wrap your hand around them triggers/R1/L1 buttons is just horrible 

" @Ygg said:

" Stick > Pad (show me a pad player that has won a major SFIV/ST tournament)
 
More accurate to control movement with your wrist and it's easier to push all 3 buttons at the same time on a stick than it is on the fightpads. 
 
But also it is great to be able to hop on to arcade cabs and not feel like it's totally alien. :)
 
"

" I perfer my PS3 pad over all of the above. I can pull off any move 99% of the time.. "

  It's not about pulling off moves, it's about comfort and ease of use. It's far, far more comfortable and easy to do Vipers super jump cancels on a stick, same goes for pretty much every sort of combo in the game.  Having to wrap your hand around them triggers/R1/L1 buttons is just horrible...  Edit: That said don't go anywhere near the standard edition fightsticks, them things drop like flies. I've had two and both times buttons died after a month, fortunately I intended to mod them with sanwa parts so it wasn't really that big a deal but unless you plan on modding the standard edition I strongly advise you go for a custom stick, the tournament stick or a Hori. (tournament stick uses sanwa parts too remember!) "

Mate, don't come in here and tell everyone this schpiel. Some people are just better with a pad (or a regular controller at that, I like the thumbstick alot on the 360). Yeah, if you're playing Viper you should probably use a stick, if you're using Gen, Honda or Blanka you should definantly be using a stick but if you're playing Cammy, Ryu or Rose there is no benafit to using a stick over a pad. It simply then boils down to who is the most dedicated and who's put the most practice in that decides who's better. Personally I think the fightpad is a piece of cheap and tacky trash. I would rather use a 360 pad over it.
 

 same goes for pretty much every sort of combo in the game.  Having to wrap your hand around them triggers/R1/L1 buttons is just horrible 

It is for you, however I'm perfectaly comfortable hitting any combination of buttons as anyone else is with their stick. At first I wasn't but I'm used to the pad and I'm very comfortable using it now. Just because you can't it doesn't make us all plebbs. In the end all these things are are different ways of imputting commands to a game. A guy that's made a cross between an Atari 2600 controller and a arcade stick could dominate in SFIV if he practiced enough and was comforable with it. "

Pad murders my thumb, stick for life. Regarding Cammy, I would assume a stick helps with high level stuff like option selecting ultra into TKCS and stuff like that. TKCS in general seems somewhat more reliable and you can spam it better on a stick, imo. Rose who benefits from plinking seems like a stick character too.

I love the stick, since it's easier to execute Ultras. The left bumper for KKK just ruins my thumb motions and always makes me do an EX or a Super instead.
 
Besides there's something very gratifying hearing those button presses on a stick, especially when it's the last execution you make in a given round.